Combined bridge and tail piece for stringed instruments



March 13, 1956 w, POLFUSS 2,737,842

COMBINED BRIDGE AND TAIL PIECE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Filed July 9, 1952 ZN VEN TOR.

MFQ/WQ Z United States Patent COMBINED BRIDGE AND TAIL PIECE FOR STRENGED INSTRUMENTS Lester W. Poifuss, Hollywood, Calif., assigncr to Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application July 9, 1952, Serial No. 297,874 2 Claims. (Cl. 84-299) This invention relates to a combined bridge and tail piece for stringed instruments, such as guitars and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a combined bridge and tail piece for stringed musical instruments such as guitars and the like which may be readily embodied in standard types of such instruments, and also of special construction or design, and which is highly efficient in supporting the strings and sustaining the load thereof.

Second, to provide a combined bridge and tail piece which may be applied as a unit to guitars and similar stringed musical instruments as a substitute for the independent bridge and tail pieces commonly provided, or with which the instruments have been originally equipped.

Third, to provide a combined bridge and tail piece having these advantages, which is economical in structure and at the same time easily applied, and which is attractive in appearance.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a guitar embodying my invention, certain parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View partially in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 4-4- in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line -5 in Fig. 3.

in the accompanying drawing 1 represents the body of a guitar, 2 the neck and 3 the strings thereof. The adjusting pins for the strings are conventionally illustrated at 5 represents an electrical pickup and 6 the adjusting means therefor. '7 represents a combined finger rest and pick guard. These parts are or may be conventional.

The combined bridge and tail piece of my invention comprises the upwardly bowed or curved body member 3 desirably formed of rod stock of uniform circular section, and having a spaced series of bores 9 disposed horizontally therethrough to receive the ends 16 of the strings which are passed over and rest upon the top of the bridge, the ends it being arranged through the bores and retained therein by means of knots 11, or suitable retaining devices on the ends of the strings. The bridge member is provided with horizontal bores 12 adjacent its ends and vertical bores at the inner sides of the horizontal bores. The vertical bores receive the threaded posts 14 which are provided with adjusting members is threaded upon the posts so that the bridge member may be raised and lowered one end relative to the other. The posts are provided with bases 16 which rest upon the sound board of the instrument 1, but are not attached thereto. To provide for effective seating of the bridge member upon the supports 15, the underside of the bridge member is slightly flattened at 115.

The diverging arms 17 of the rod-like U-shaped tail piece member 18 terminate in parallel angularly disposed ends 19 which are passed through the bores 12 and are provided with nuts 20 which serves as thrust abutment members and sustain the pull of the strings upon the bridge. The members 20 illustrated are cap nuts which provide a suitable finish. The bight 21 of the member 18 is secured to the tail piece base or coupling member 22 which is desirably a sheet metal stamping and has a downturned curved flange 22 on its front edge and engaging the bight of the member 18. However, the members 18 and 22 are fixedly secured by welds as indicated at 23 (see Fig. 2).

The base member 22 is provided with pintle knuckles 24 which interengage with the knuckles 25 on the attaching plate 26, the base member and the attaching plate being connected by a pivot 27 through these knuckles.

This provides a very strong though relatively light combined bridge and tail piece which may be readily incorporated in new instruments, and is also adapted to be applied to types of stringed instruments now on the market as a substitute for the bridge and tail pieces thereof.

I am aware that adjustable bridges are old, but the adjustable feature of my invention is of importance in adjusting the bridge to meet the requirements of the particular user, as well as to adapt my combined bridge and tail piece as a substitute for the bridges and tail pieces of instruments now on the market or in the hands of users. The means for attaching the member 26 to the instruments are conventionally indicated at 23. These are commonly in the form of round headed screws.

I hate illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment therefor. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A combined bridge and tail piece for string musical instruments of the class described comprising an upwardly curved bar-like bridge member of uniform circular ection having laterally spaced horizontal bores therein through which the ends of strings disposed on the bridge member may be passed for attachment thereof to the bridge member, said bridge member having a pair of additional horizontal bores adjacent the ends thereof, and a pair of vertical bores at the sides of the end horizontal bores, bridge member posts slidably disposed in said vertical bores and having bridge supporting members threaded for adjustment thereon, flat bases on the lower ends of said posts adapted to rest on the body of the instrument, the ends of said curved bridge member being flatted on the underside seating on said support members, a U-shaped tail piece member having arms terminating in laterally spaced parallel end portions arranged through said additional horizontal bores in said bridge member, thrust abutment members for said bridge member threaded upon said tail piece member arms to sustain the pull on the bridge member, and an attaching plate to which said tail piece member is hingedly connected.

2. A combined bridge and tail piece for string musical instruments of the class described comprising an upwardiy curved bar-like bridge member of uniform circular section having lateraliy spaced bores therein opening below the top thereof and through which the ends of strings disposed on the bridge member may be passed for attachment thereof to the bridge member, said bridge member having a pair of horizontal bores adjacent the ends thereof, and a pair of vertical bores at the sides of the horizon'talbor'es, bridge member posts slidably disposed in saidvertical-bores'and having bridge supporting members threaded for adjustment thereon, flat bases on the lower ends of said posts adapted to rest on the bedy of the instrument, a U-shaped tail piece member having arms arranged through said horizontal bores in said bridge member, bridge abutment members threaded on the ends of said tail piece member arms to sustain the pull on the bridge member, and an attaching plate to which said tail piece member is hingedly connected. 10

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 454,905 Geiger June 30, 1891 15 I Hines Nov. 3, 1891 Owen Jan. 17, 1893 Ingersoll July 4, 1893 Murdock, Jr Apr. 21, 1896 Henery Oct. 12, 1897 Sunshine July 19, 1938 Gretsch, Ir. Feb. 13, 1940 Bredice July 11, 1950 Fender Oct 30, 1951 Kluson Feb. 12, 1952 

